handkerchiefs or tissues?

Attila_the_Bun

I got wondering if hankies might be a better (as in, more eco-friendly) option than using tissues and keep throwing them away.

Having said that, my mum refused to have hankies, saying they were unhygienic :rotfl: and we always had a box of tissues at home instead. I can see what she means, having used hankies hanging around probably isn't that great for germs. I guess you'd have to put them in a boil wash, like you would nappies.

It's also quite hard to find handkerchiefs now. Maybe it's quite old-fashioned and it's only the elderly that use them?

What do you think? Does anyone here still use proper cotton handkerchiefs?

Farway

Attila_the_Bun wrote: »

What do you think? Does anyone here still use proper cotton handkerchiefs?

Only at weddings & funerals

pramsay13

I do, but after a few weeks it starts to get difficult to fold up :P

rach_k

You don't have to boil wash nappies, in fact you mustn't boil wash modern ones as it will ruin them. There's no need anyway. Modern machines and detergents are very good so nappies can be washed in a good long wash cycle at up to 60 degrees with a standard detergent and that will be perfectly fine.

We use cotton hankies at home. I find that they're much nicer to use than tissues - gentler on skin, especially when you have a cold, and less inclined to disintegrate! I don't like reusing the same hankie over and over - trying to find a clean spot is a bit yuk - so I cut our standard size men's hankies (bought in a Boots sale years ago) into four. You still get four uses per original hankie, but they're more the size of standard paper tissues and you put them straight in the wash after use.

I normally wash them with other non-paper alternatives like my make-up wipes. I have a lot of both so I only tend to wash them once every few weeks, maybe once a month, so it's a decent size wash-load. I wash at 30 degrees, standard wash cycle with a quick tumble dry at the end to soften them (we have hard water). No stains, nothing yucky to deal with!

There are lots of 'eco' shops selling them now as well as Etsy, but I tend to find the quirky/pretty ones a bit thick for my liking. I prefer thinner cotton ones like my dad used to have. Mine were bought years ago but I'm sure places like M&S still sell them or apparently charity shops tend to get them in unopened boxes.

FabFifty

Handkerchiefs are definitely more enviro friendly than tissues - what's not to like? Not hard to find - many department stores, gents outfitters, ebay, Amazon etc. Just start each day with a clean handkerchief. No need for a boil wash - just wash with your normal clothing at a sensible temperature. I'm surprised that more people don't use handkerchiefs.

Nonnadiluca

I made hankies from an old cotton pillowcase, just used pinking shears so no need for sewing! They are so much softer on a sore nose, ( I gave some to my nine year old grandson when he had a cold and he asked me to make him some more!). I have loads so I put them in with a 60° bedding and towels wash and don't run out even though I only use them a few times. Obviously, much more eco friendly. I wouldn't go back to tissues.

[Deleted User]

We use tissues and burn them on the fire especially if one of us has a cold.

For weddings etc I use a delicate ladylike lace trimmed handkerchief, OH has man sized white hanky in his pocket at all times. I have to admit thought at some times it resembles a dirty rag!!

worn_out_mum

We use hankies, I bought some from amazon and made some from a threadbare sheet. My OH was really against them when I suggested them as he thought they wouldn't stand up to his allergies but he prefers them now as they are much softer on his nose. I just wash them with the clothes on a normal wash, as for germs I'm sure the UV in sunlight kills bugs and I think the dryer is hot enough to kill them too. Don't quote me though!

jackyann

I buy every day cotton handkerchiefs at the market, and I buy seriously nice ones from Givans.
Normally, they just go through the ordinary wash. I have some men's hankies that I keep forwhen I have a cold, and drop them into a bucket with a drop of disinfectant.

Linda32

We use hankies as well, never buy tissues.

LameWolf

We use hankies; Mr LW won't use tissues, he says they make his nose sore. We have a large drawer full, so I use them as well ("ladies" hankies are worse than useless if one has a cold or hay fever).
I put them on a hot-wash along with towels and flannels, and they are kept separate from the main washing (in a separate bag) til there's enough for a wash.
There are eighteen of them drying on the A-frame over the bath as I type, having been washed today.

We got some lovely ones when we were in Belgium, with a proper border and everything, from a street market in Maldegem.

Other than that, I've been able to buy them in JL recently.